Cylindrical chess game apparatus

ABSTRACT

The game apparatus comprises a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in a plurality of ranks. Two sets of chess pieces are used, each comprising one set of major pieces and two sets of pawn pieces with half the pawns being distinguishable from the other half. Means are provided for adherence of the sets of chess pieces to the cylindrical playing surface such that an orbital chess game may be played.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,9

Akers Sept. 30, 1975 CYLINDRICAL CHESS GAME APPARATUS Primary E.\'aminerDelbert B. Lowe [76] Inventor: David A. Akers, 20970 Pawnee Atmme)" Agent or Firm Gerald Moore Trail, Los Gatos, Calif. 95030 [22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.2 522,938 The game apparatus comprises a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in a plu- [52] U S Cl 273/131 773/13] KN rality of ranks. Two sets of chess pieces are used, each [51] A63F 3/02 comprising one set of major pieces and two sets of [58] i 273/131 pawn pieces with half the pawns being distinguishable from the other half. Means are provided for adherence [56] References Cited of the sets of chess pieces ,to the cylindrical playing surface such that an orbital chess game may be UNITED STATES PATENTS played 3.359.003 l2/l967 Kass 273/l3l AD 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Q5 30 34- i 1 W l 7/ e El E1 U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 3,909,000

' cYLiNDRiCALCHEs's GAME APPARATUS 'BACKGROUNDQF THE INVENTION This invention r elates to a game, and more particularly to a game resembling the well-knownga'm'e of chess modified such that: it is played on a cylindrical surface. The cylinder and t'he ch e'ss pieces cooperate such that thepieces will adhere to the surface as the cylinder is turned for access to the pieces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIG. 1' the playing surface is shown, partially in cross-section, FIG. 2 illustrates the cylinder forming the playing surface and FIG. '3 is a planar-view of the playing surface. r

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION,

A conventional game board for playing chess is square in outline havingfour sides equal in length with the surface divided into 64 squares or playing positions alternately colored light and dark, there being 32 squares of each color. The 64 playing positions are arranged to form eight horizontal rows of eight positions each, referred toas ranks, and eight vertical'columns of eight positions ea'ch, referred to as files..:

To play chess, the board justdescribed is used with thirtytwo conventional light and dark chessmen (king, queen, rooks, knights, bishops and pawns). Of course in the conventional game of chess certain rules are followed concerning the manner in which the chessmen can be moved. Such rules are well-known and will not be reviewed herein. The subject invention involves an improvement over the standard chess game to provide a greater challenge to the players.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cylinder mounted for rotation of a shaft 1 1 supported between a pair of pedestals 12 and 14 fixed to a base 15. The cylinder preferably is made of magnetic material and consists of end plates 16 and 17 each having a center opening 18 and 19 respectively, in which are fitted bushings 20 which slip over the shaft 11 and permit rotation of the cylinder thereabout. The outer edges of the end plates 16 and 17 form thumb tracks for turning the cylinder relative to the shaft.

Fixed to the outer cylinder surface comprising the metallic sleeve 21 is the playing surface for chess. This playing surface is divided into squares on which the chess game is played. For this reason the cylinder must be supported above the base a sufficient distance to permit clearance of the chess pieces as the cylinder is rotated. In a normal circumstance each chess piece will include a magnet which will be attracted to the metallic sleeve 21 for holding the piece onto the playing surface. Since the chess pieces in the playing position can form an off-balance condition on the drum, there is need to provide means for holding the drum in any position it is turned to even though such off-balance situation exists. Therefore a magnet 22 is fixed to the pedestal 12 by being mounted onto a base 24 which is fixed by the screws 25 onto the pedestal. This magnet is positioned sufficiently close to the drum end 16 to attract and hold the drum against accidental turning. However, the drum can be turned by hand during the playing of the chess game. One example of a chess piece (fixed to the playing surface) is shown in FIG. 1 as piece 26.

The playing sui 'face is shown in one embodiment in FIG. 3 as being divided into alternating light and dark squares27 and 28, respectively making eight files and fourteenra'nks. In this preferred embodiment, each setof chessmen consists of 24 pieces or three ranks including sixteen pawns 30 making up two ranks. The other rank consists of two rooks31, two knights 32, two bish ops 34, one queen 35 and one king 36. It has been found that at least 11 2 playing positions are necessary for proper, space forf each player to manipulate three ranks' o f chessmen eight files'wide. Otherwise l4 ranks are desirable on a playing" surface if three ranks of chessmen are provided to each pl ayer. Because of the cylindrical design of the board, one preferred set of rulesfor this orbital chess game differs from regular chess played on a flat board. The main objective of the game is still to rriate the king. However, to accommodate the larger board, the diagonal motion of a bishop or queen is limited to eight squares or the equivalent of one-half the cylinder. The rook and queen have unlimited orbital and horizontal movement unless there is another piece in the direction of play. The knight moves along its normal L-shaped patternand can jumpover other pieces. The knight is the only piece that can-jump ove-r;other pieces, while the. king moves one square at atime. F

The. pawns of each set-are divided into two families as illustrated in the drawings, one family 30A 'has'round bases and capturing the other'family 30B has square bases and are in a rank on the opposite side of the kings rank. Of course the pawns of different sets are identified by differences in color. The shape of the base determines the direction of play of the pawn with the circular and square base pawns being able to be moved only in opposite directions. The pawns with the same base and color start on the same rank and travel in the same direction.

These directions are indicated by the arrows 37 which are drawn to illustrate the direction of movement of each set of pawns. If the circumstance arises in which a pawn reaches the eighth rank position relative to both orbital directions and the player of the pawn has not lost any pieces other than pawns, at the time the pawn cannot be exchanged for a higher piece and therefore the pawn may continue forward on to the next square and return to its starting rank, completing fourteen ranks. Of course a pawn can complete on orbit or several orbits in the course of one game. If a pawn returns to its starting rank and pieces other than pawns have been lost, the player than may exchange pieces. When a pawn returns to its original rank, the player does not have to exchange pieces if he prefers but he will lose his privilege to exchange after his next move.

Capturing en passant does apply immediately in this preferred version of orbital chess. The priviledge of capturing en passant is used only when the pawns have reached the fifth rank position and the opponents pawns have not reached the fourth rank position. Capturing en passant is the taking of the opponents pawn from the same rank with a pawn moving forward diagonally one square. It should be noted that when the opponent has passed the attack to an enemy pawn, capturing en passant must be played immediately or the enemy player loses privilege of the rule after the next move.

If a pawn returns to its original rank in completeing fourteen ranks and the players of the pawn have lost pieces other than pawns, the player can exchange pieces immediately or has the choice of moving one or two squares as preferred and capturing en passant can apply again. If two pawns of the same set meet in a vertical position by traveling in opposite directions, they are then blocking each other and must stay in that position until one is removed by the opponent or the player takes a piece from the opponent with one of the blocked pawns. If two pawns of the same color meet in a diagonal position relative to their opposite motion, they are then protecting each other.

Thus it can be seen that there is provided in orbital chess a more complicated chess game generally presenting a greater challenge to the players threreby making the game of more interest to advanced players. It should be remembered that while a cylindrical playing surface is described, the cross-sectional shape of the playing board could just as well be square, oblong, etc. so long as the ranks form a continuous path therearound.

The invention claimed:

1. A game apparatus comprising:

two sets of chess pieces;

a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in a plurality of ranks and files;

each set of chess pieces comprising a plurality of major pieces equal in number to the number of files on the playing surface and a plurality of pawns equal in number to twice the number of files on the playing surface,

said cylinder including a number of ranks of playing positions exceedingthe total number of ranks of chess pieces to enable the playing of cylindrical chess on the playing surface, and

said sets being distinguishable from each other and half of said pawns of a set being distinguishable from the other half of the same set.

2. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface includes fourteen ranks.

3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the playing surface includes eight files.

4. A game apparatus comprising:

two sets of chess pieces;

a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in eight files and sufficient ranks to enable the playing of a game of chess;

each set of said chess pieces comprising eight major pieces and sixteen pawns with half the pawns being distinguishable from the other half and each set being distinguishable from the other set.

5. A game apparatus. as defined in claim 4 wherein said playing surface includes at least one hundred twelve playing positions.

6. A game apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cylinder and chess pieces include means for holding the pieces onto the playing surface. 

1. A game apparatus comprising: two sets of chess pieces; a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in a plurality of ranks and files; each set of chess pieces comprising a plurality of major pieces equal in number to the number of files on the playing surface and a plurality of pawns equal in number to twice the number of files on the playing surface, said cylinder including a number of ranks of playing positions exceeding the total number of ranks of chess pieces to enable the playing of cylindrical chess on the palying surface, and said sets being distinguishable from each other and half of said pawns of a set being distinguishable from the other half of the same set.
 2. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface includes fourteen ranks.
 3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the playing surface includes eight files.
 4. A game apparatus comprising: two sets of chess pieces; a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in eight files and sufficient ranks to enable the playing of a game of chess; each set of said chess pieces comprising eight major pieces and sixteen pawns with half the pawns being distinguishable from the other half and each set being distinguishable from the other set.
 5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said playing surface includes at least one hundred twelve playing positions.
 6. A game apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cylinder and chess pieces include means for holding the pieces onto the playing surface. 